Hits:

Affiliation of Author(s):[1]Univ Elect Sci & Technol China, Inst Fundamental & Frontier Sci, Chengdu, Sichuan, Peoples R China;[2]City Univ Hong Kong, Dept Mech Engn, Hong Kong, Peoples R China;[3]Chinese Acad Sci, Beijing Engn Res Ctr Nanomat Green Printing Techn, Inst Chem, Key Lab Green Printing, Beijing, Peoples R China;[4]Univ Sci & Technol China, Dept Chem Phys, Hefei Natl Lab Phys Sci Microscale, Hefei, Anhui, Peoples R China;[5]Max Planck Inst Polymer Res, Dept Phys Interfaces, Mainz, Germany

Journal:NATURE MATERIALS

Key Words:Water conservation - Surface charge - Wetting

Abstract:The directed, long-range and self-propelled transport of droplets on solid surfaces is crucial for many applications from water harvesting to bio-analysis(1-9). Typically, preferential transport is achieved by topographic or chemical modulation of surface wetting gradients that break the asymmetric contact line and overcome the resistance force to move droplets along a particular direction(10-16). Nonetheless, despite extensive progress, directional droplet transport is limited to low transport velocity or short transport distance. Here we report the high-velocity and ultralong transport of droplets elicited by surface charge density gradients printed on diverse substrates. We leverage the facile water droplet printing on superamphiphobic surfaces to create rewritable surface charge density gradients that stimulate droplet propulsion under ambient conditions(17) and without the need for additional energy input. Our strategy provides a platform for programming the transport of droplets on flat, flexible and vertical surfaces that may be valuable for applications requiring a controlled movement of droplets(17-19).

Document Type:Article

Volume:18

Issue:9

Page Number:936-+

ISSN No.:1476-1122

Translation or Not:no